0 reactions
Blinken speaks with Chinese foreign minister ahead of expected high-stakes visit to Beijing
By Nectar Gan and Mengchen Zhang, CNN
Updated 2:29 AM EDT, Wed June 14, 2023
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on the phone on Wednesday.
Chip Somodevilla/Michele Tantussi/Getty Images
Hong KongCNN —
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with China’s foreign minister by phone on Wednesday, a call that comes ahead of a highly anticipated expected visit by Washington’s top diplomat to Beijing as the two superpowers try to improve the dismal state of their ties.
In his call with Qin Gang, Blinken discussed “the importance of maintaining open lines of communication” to responsibly manage US-China relations to “avoid miscalculation and conflict,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.
Blinken also addressed a range of bilateral and global issues, and made clear “the US would continue to use diplomatic engagements to raise areas of concern as well as areas of potential cooperation,” according to the statement.
China’s readout of the call was noticeably more pointed, underscoring the deep distrust that lingers between Beijing and Washington.
Qin told Blinken the US should “show respect” on China’s core concerns such as the Taiwan issue.
Qin also urged the US to “stop interfering in China’s internal affairs” and “stop undermining China’s sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition,” according to a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry.
Biden will 'at some point' meet with China's Xi Jinping, top White House official says
Qin said he hoped the US can meet China halfway, effectively manage differences, and promote communication and cooperation to stabilize bilateral relations and bring ties “back to the track of healthy and stable development.”
The US and Chinese readouts of the phone call made no mention of Blinken’s visit, which has not been officially announced by the US State Department or China’s Foreign Ministry.
Two US officials and a source familiar with the matter told CNN earlier this month that Blinken was expected to travel to China in the coming weeks.
It came after a flurry of meetings between senior US and Chinese officials since last month, and US President Joe Biden’s prediction of a near-term “thaw” in relations with Beijing.
Blinken originally planned to visit China in February as the two countries attempted to stabilize ties following an in-person meeting between their leaders in Indonesia last November.
But the high-stakes trip was postponed over a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew over the continental US and was later shot down.
China has been operating military and spy facilities in Cuba for years, US officials say
Since then, already tense relations between US and China have become palpably more fraught, with issues over Taiwan, the South China Sea and chip export restrictions fueling tensions.
China’s Communist Party claims self-ruled, democratic Taiwan, despite having never ruled it, and has vowed to one day “unite” it with the mainland, by force in necessary.
It also claims historic jurisdiction over almost the entirety of the vast South China Sea and has built up tiny reefs and sandbars into artificial islands heavily fortified with missiles, runways and weapons systems – sparking outcry from the other claimants.
In a veiled criticism, Qin appeared to blame the US for the heightened tensions in recent months in his call with Blinken, according to the Chinese readout.
“Since the beginning of this year, China-US relations have encountered new difficulties and challenges, and the responsibility is clear,” Qin said, adding that China had always handled relations with the US according to the principles of “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation” put forward by Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
RELATED
China has been operating military and spy facilities in Cuba for years, US ...
PAID CONTENT
P lan Your Next Mexico Vacation - The Adventure Awaits!
Mexico Vacation | Search Ads Mexico Vacation
O lympic gold medalist Tori Bowie died from childbirth complications, autopsy finds
Discover the Best Mexico Vacation Deals for 2023 Mexico Vacation | Search AdsMexico Vacation
Experience unparalleled speed with TM Edge Experience Unparalleled Speed and Reliability with TM Edge SolutionsTM Global
2023s latest German hearing aid technology is now available in India. Try for yourself Hear.com
Log In
Live TV
Audio
World
US Politics
Business
Health
Entertainment
Tech
Style
Travel
Sports
Videos
Features
Weather
More
World
FOLLOW CNN
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Cookie Settings
Ad Choices
Accessibility & CC
About
Newsletters
Transcripts
© 2023 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.
| 0 mlx | |
| 53 | |
| 0 |